CHARLOTTE, NC - Michael Jordan was easy to spot courtside in his bright red coat. He shook hands, yelled at the referees and kept checking his phone in his first game as owner-to-be of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Jordan's old magic was missing from his team, however. Be like Mike? That distinction belonged to the NBA's hottest club.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and 13 rebounds, Jason Terry had several key buckets down the stretch, and the surging Dallas Mavericks beat Charlotte 89-84 on Monday night.